| | Uncomfortable physical and psychological symptoms at the end-of-life are common. Many of these symptoms are typical during the final hours, while others occur early on in the trajectory of decline (for the person receiving hospice). Correspondingly, some symptoms may be more common with select medical conditions or diseases, such as for patients with cancer or lung disease. These symptoms are distressing to patients and upsetting to caregiver members and caregivers. Nonetheless, many can be prevented or managed to promote comfort and decrease suffering. This module reviews the following common distressful symptoms that occur at the end-of-life: anxiety, bowel management – constipation, bowel management – diarrhea, death rattle, delirium, depression, fatigue, hemorrhage, nausea/vomiting, wounds.
Why Common Distressful Symptoms?
- Uncomfortable physical and psychological symptoms at the end-of-life are common.
- These symptoms are distressing to patients and upsetting to family members and caegivers
- Many symptoms can be prevented or managed by early, appropriate interventions.
- Palliation of symptoms is central to the hospice philosophy of care.
How to Use These Resources: Start with the training program, A Guide to Common Distressful Symptoms, which offers an overview of resources available through the Common Distressful Symptoms best practice topic area.
Explore additional resources, critical interventions and measurement and evaluation tools by clicking on the boxes above.
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